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This year’s Christmas Tour of Homes will have a new sponsor.

On Wednesday, the Union County Health Care Foundation (UCHCF) announced plans to sponsor the 2012 Christmas Tour of Homes on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Even though the Christmas season is months away, UCHCF Executive Director Catherine M. Childers said the foundation has already begun the much planning and preparation involved with the event. Childers also said the foundation wants to get the word out now to give people time to make the decision to participate.

Anyone who is interested in showcasing a decorated home or church during the Christmas season should contact Catherine M. Childers at (864) 301-2466 or by email at cchilders@wallacethomson.com.

All money raised during this year’s Christmas Tour of Homes will benefit the foundation’s current project — a Cardiovascular Diagnostic Stress Testing System. The system will measure the heart’s ability to respond to external stress in a controlled clinical environment.

Cardiac stress tests compare the coronary circulation while the patient is at rest with the same patient’s circulation observed during maximum physical exertion, showing any abnormal blood flow to the heart’s muscle tissue. Results can be interpreted as a reflection on the general physical condition of the test patient. This test can be used to diagnose ischemic heart disease, and for patient prognosis after a heart attack.

The Union County Health Care Foundation is a network of caring citizens whose goal is to identify and secure additional funding to supplement the efforts of Wallace Thomson Hospital, Ellen Sagar Nursing Home, the Emergency Medical Service (EMS), and the medical community of Union County in providing high quality, cost effective health care.

The purpose of the Union County Health Care Foundation is to raise funds through charitable donations and fund raising events that will be applied to the health care needs of the citizens of Union County, and 100 percent of all funds raised will be applied to fulfill the mission of the foundation.